Integrated wireless resonant power charging and communication channel

Abstract

A wireless powering device for providing directional wireless power to a target device. The wireless powering device includes a power source and communication circuitry configured to receive a communication signal from the target device. The wireless powering device further includes source power manager circuitry configured to determine (e.g., based on the communication signal) a location of the target device relative to the wireless powering device. Resonant coupling circuitry is coupled to the power source and the source power manager circuitry, the resonant coupling circuitry configured to generate a directional wireless power transmission, based on the location of the target device, to transfer wireless power to the target device. In an embodiment, the directional wireless power transmission is via non-radiated magnetic field. In another embodiment, the direction wireless power transmission is via a radiated magnetic field.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless powering device for providing wireless power to target devices, the wireless powering device comprising:
 a power source; 
 communication circuitry configured to receive a communication signal from a target device, the communication signal comprising target device authentication information previously provided to the target device; and 
 resonant coupling circuitry coupled to the power source, the resonant coupling circuitry configured to:
 generate a wireless power transmission to transfer wireless power to the target device responsive to authentication of the target device authentication information and responsive to retrieval of a target resonant frequency for the target device using the target device authentication information; and 
 dynamically adjust the target resonant frequency of the wireless power transmission based on feedback received from the target device via the communication circuitry. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless powering device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless power transmission by the resonant coupling circuitry is via a non-radiated magnetic field. 
     
     
       3. The wireless powering device of  claim 2 , wherein generating the wireless power transmission includes directional adjustments of the non-radiated magnetic field in a direction of a location of the target device. 
     
     
       4. The wireless powering device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless power transmission by the resonant coupling circuitry is via a radiated magnetic field. 
     
     
       5. The wireless powering device of  claim 4 , wherein generating the wireless power transmission includes focusing magnetic flux lines in a direction of a location of the target device. 
     
     
       6. The wireless powering device of  claim 1 , wherein the resonant coupling circuitry includes a directional antenna for providing the wireless power transmission. 
     
     
       7. The wireless powering device of  claim 1 , wherein the resonant coupling circuitry includes at least one of an antenna array or a dish antenna for providing the wireless power transmission. 
     
     
       8. The wireless powering device of  claim 1 , further comprising source power manager circuitry configured to determine a location of the target device relative to the wireless powering device based, at least in part, on an arrival direction of the target device as indicated by the communication signal. 
     
     
       9. The wireless powering device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the communication circuitry is further configured to receive a plurality of communication signals from a plurality of target devices; 
 the source power manager circuitry is further configured to determine, based on the plurality of communication signals, respective locations of the plurality of target devices relative to the wireless powering device; and 
 the resonant coupling circuitry is further configured to generate the wireless power transmission based on the respective locations of the plurality of target devices. 
 
     
     
       10. The wireless powering device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless powering device further comprises:
 a target device authenticator coupled to the communication circuitry, the target device authenticator configured to determine, based on the target device authentication information, the target resonant frequency to be used for the wireless power transmission. 
 
     
     
       11. A wireless powering device for providing wireless power to a target device, the wireless powering device comprising:
 an integrated circuit formed including communication circuitry and source power manager circuitry, the integrated circuit coupled to resonant coupling circuitry, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to: 
 receive a communication signal from the target device, the communication signal comprising target device authentication information previously provided to the target device; 
 control the resonant coupling circuitry to generate a wireless power transmission to transfer wireless power to the target device responsive to authentication of the target device authentication information and responsive to retrieval of a target resonant frequency for the target device using the target device authentication information; and 
 dynamically adjust the target resonant frequency of the wireless power transmission based on feedback received from the target device via the communication circuitry. 
 
     
     
       12. The wireless powering device of  claim 11 , wherein the resonant coupling circuitry is further formed as part of the integrated circuit. 
     
     
       13. The wireless powering device of  claim 11 , wherein the wireless power transmission by the resonant coupling circuitry is via a non-radiated magnetic field. 
     
     
       14. The wireless powering device of  claim 13 , wherein generating the wireless power transmission includes directional adjustments of the non-radiated magnetic field in a direction of a location of the target device. 
     
     
       15. The wireless powering device of  claim 11 , wherein the wireless power transmission by the resonant coupling circuitry is via a radiated magnetic field. 
     
     
       16. The wireless powering device of  claim 15 , wherein generating the wireless power transmission includes focusing magnetic flux lines in a direction of a location of the target device. 
     
     
       17. A method for execution by a wireless powering device to provide wireless power for a target device, the method comprising:
 receiving a communication signal from the target device, the communication signal comprising target device authentication information previously provided to the target device; 
 generating, responsive to authentication of the target device authentication information and responsive to retrieval of a target resonant frequency for the target device using the target device authentication information, a wireless power transmission to transfer wireless power to the target device, wherein the wireless power transmission is via a non-radiated magnetic field generated by resonant coupling circuitry; and 
 dynamically adjusting the target resonant frequency of the wireless power transmission based on feedback received from the target device. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein generating the wireless power transmission includes directional adjustments of the non-radiated magnetic field in a direction of a location of the target device. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein determining a relative location of the target device is based, at least in part, on an arrival direction of the target device as indicated by the communication signal. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the communication signal identifies the target resonant frequency to be used for the wireless power transmission.